Red Hot Reds Make Move, Yankees Still #1

MLB Features

WhatIfSports.com utilizes its award-winning baseball simulation engine to present the most comprehensive and unbiased ranking possible of all 30 teams in baseball each Monday during the regular season.
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2010 Power Rankings Archive

The Cincinnati Reds have been on fire over the last three weeks. They have now jumped from 22nd to 16th in WIS Power Rankings. After taking two of three against the Cardinals over the weekend, the Reds are now in sole possession of first place in the NL Central.

Taking a look at the stats, Cincinnati's pitching has really led the charge up the standings after slipping out of the gate in early April. The Reds' team ERA has dropped from 5.41 last month to 3.54 in May.

"Everybody has been clicking on all cylinders," starting pitcher Homer Bailey told Whatifsports.com. "That's what a lot of people didn't see {in April}, was how bad we were playing as a team. We have started to get into our rhythm and we're right there."

The Cincinnati Reds are 9-5 in the month of May and have won 14 out of their last 20 games dating back to the end of April. The team's bats have awoken from a spring slumber too. Jay Bruce is hitting .364 over the last seven days and is realizing his team can erupt at anytime.

"We've been playing good baseball," Bruce told Whatifsports.com. "The tough losses have given us more character and a resiliency to know we are never out of games."

Great American Ballpark, the Reds home field, has experienced a jolt in attendance numbers thanks to the team's hot play.

Ryan Fowler is the Content Manager for Whatifsports.com. He can be reached at rfowler@whatifsports.com. As with all of our BtB features, we are willing to listen to feedback to make it as interesting and user-friendly as possible. Thanks!